Device for closing holes in ships.



R- E. CHAPMAN. DEVICE FOR CLOSING nous m SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l3. 9H-

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHE l- I R. E. CHAPMAN.

DEVICE FOR CLOSING HOLES IN SHIPS.

APPLICATION mm AUG. I3. 1911. 1 286 227, Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

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R. E. CHAPMAN.

DEVICE FOR CLOSING HOLES IN SHIPS. APPLICATION FILED AUGJ'SJQH.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

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RALPH E. CHAPMAN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR CLOSING HOLES IN SHIPS.

Application filed August 13, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH E. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Devices for 010s ing Holes in Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to means for effecting the temporary repair of a ship whose hull has been damaged by collision or the explosion of a torpedo, and has to do more particularly with what may be called a collision mat by which the inrush of water through a hole in a ships hull may be stopped or impeded. The present invention also relates to means for expeditiously positioning a suitable mat so that a minimum of time may elapse after the damage has occurred and before the mat is in place. The principal objects of the invention therefore are to provide a so'called collision mat of suitable construction and to provide for the quick positioning of the mat for the purpose of saving the ship or so delaying its sinking that the persons on board may have time to escape in boats.

In view of the fact that numbers of ships are sunk by torpedo or mine explosions, the invention will be considered principally in connection therewith but its more general application will of course be apparent. The use of some form of mat or patch for a hole in the hull of the vessel is a more or less common expedient in salvage operations but for emergency use such mats are not readily available. To be most effective a mat of the general character referred to must be placed in position over the hole in the hull of the ship before the compartment behind the hole has filled with water or at least. while the water level within the ship is considerably below the water level outside. Under such circumstances the differential in pressure between the outside and the inside of the hull may be utilized to advantage in holding a mat in position. This is particularly true where the hole isentirely below the water line as is most generally the case where the damage is the result of external explosion.

It is therefore desirable to have ready for emergency use a strong and durable mat which can be quickly put in place. It is also desirable that when not in use, the mat be so disposed that as little hindrance as.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Serial No. 185,826.

possible will be offered to the forward movement of the ship.

The accompanying drawings show an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein a mat which may be used as heretofore suggested can be readily stowed for in'miediate use in a number of practicable ways, three of which are illustrated. The drawings also show illustrative apparatus for quickly and effectively placing the mat in operative position.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the hull of a ship,

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views later to be referred to,

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section on the line 4l4L of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of an illustrative mat releasing mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the hull of a vessel showing a slightly different method of attaching a mat thereto,

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections on the line 88 and 99 of Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a portion of the hull of a ship showing a still different method of mounting the collision mat,

Fig. 11 is a detail of the releasing means, and

Fig. 12 is a. side elevation of the hull showing how the mat is placed in operative position.

Referring to the drawings particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, a vertical recess or chamber 1 is formed in the hull 2 of the vessel and is provided with a swinging door 3 hinged at 4.- to swing outwardly toward the stern of the ship. A locking device 5 of suitable construction may be provided to hold theforward edge of the door 3 so that as the ship moves forward under normal conditions there will be no protuberance to impede its forward progress. Preferably the locking device comprises a hinged member 6 so arranged that upon rotation in a contraclockwise direction in Fig. 4 it will forcibly open the door 8 until the rush of water along the side of the ship gets behind the door and swings it around against the hull aft the chamber. Any suitable means, mechanically or electrically controlled may be employed to release the lock such as a diagrammatically shown spring pressed throwin arm 7 here placed upon the deck of the ship, and held in position by a catch 8 which may be released by an electro-magnet 9.

Within the chamber 1 a collision mat 10 may be placed, the preferred construction of the mat being indicated in Fig. 3 and consisting of a heavy core 11, vertical steel rods 12 and wire mesh 13; the whole being covered with one or more layers of heavy canvas 141 or the like. This mat may be attached at one end to the hull of the ship within the chamber 1 while the other end is attached to the core 11, and it may be sufliciently flexible to be rolled upon the core and stowed within the chamber 1. To insure the projection of the rolled mat when the door 3 is opened, there may be provided a number of springs 15 normally under compression. When the door is opened these springs will forcibly push the rolled mat out from the chamber whereupon the rush of water caused by the forward move ment of the vessel will tend to unroll the mat along theside of the hull. To further assist in the rearward unrolling movement of the mat a line 16 may be attached to a swivel 11 in the top of the core and normally extend aft to a tensioning device 17 having suitable means, herein shown as a spring, to. maintain a constant tension upon the line. Upon the release of the door and the projection of the mat from the chamber the tensioning device 17 will tend to pull the rolled mat along the side of the ship.

In order to further assist in positioning the mat, a sweep line 18 may be passed under the keel of the vessel and used to haul fast a line 19 attached to a swivel 4E2 in the lower end of the core 11. The line 19 is preferably spirally wound up upon" the corewith the mat by laying it diagonally from the lower left hand corner to the upper right hand corner, but it may be left outside as shown in Figs. 10 and 12. In order to facilitate the passing of the sweep line 18 un-, der the keel it may be provided with a num= ber of concave pulleys 2O fastened upon or running freely upon a swiveledsection 21 of sweep line 18 attached to the remainder of the line by swivels 22 of suitable construction. To pass the sweep line 18 under the keel its two ends may be temporarily attached to the rail or other convenient part and the heavy pulleys thrown over the how. The action of the water and the weight of the pulleys will tend to draw the line under the bow and along the keel. The inboard ends of the line may then be carried aft to the proper point and theline 19 attached to one end, hauled under and made fast on the far side of the ship after the mat is in operative position.

As seen by Fig. 1 several chambers 1 containing the rolled mats may be located at convenient intervals along the side of the hull and the mats may be of sufficient length to cover substantially twice the distance between adjacent mats. If therefore a torpedo explosion damages and renders inoperative one of these chambers it is unlikely that the force of the explosion will extend far enough to damage the adjacent mat chamber. Therefore it is still possible to cover the hole caused by the explosion by the use of the next forward mat. Fig. 1, by way of illustration, indicates that an explosion produced a hole 23 in the hull, indicated by dotted lines, and shows one of the mats in operative position covering this hole. It is assumed that the second mat and chamber were damaged by this explosion.

If it is desired to equip the vessel with the herein described mat without altering the hull an arrangement of the device shown in other figures of the drawings, presently to be described, may be employed. Referring to Figs. 7 to 9 the previously described mat may be folded upon itself to assume a position shown in Fig. 9 and laid against the hull of the ship. The line 19 which is adapted to be later passed under the keel of the ship and the line 16 which is preferably kept under constant tension may be provided as before while the forward end of the mat may be fastened directly to the hull of the vessel as at 24. Springs may be arranged as before to assist in pushing the mat from the side of the ship. A cover 25 may be attached to the side of the ship aft the rolled mat and detachably fastened to the side of the ship forward of the rolled mat by any suitable means herein shown as a series of eyes 26 passed through a member 27 to which the cover is attached, and a series, of hooks 28 attached to a rod 29 adapted to be raised to disengage the hooks by a lever 29 provided with a catch, spring and electro-magnet as in Fig. 5.

The operation of this arrangement of the device will be similar to that previously described, in that upon release of the forward fastening of the cover the springs will operate to push the mat out from the side of the ship where it will be unrolled by the action of the water during forward movement of the vessel, assisted by the taut line 16 and later held in place by the line 19 after it has been passed under the keel.

A still difi'erent arrangement of the device by which it may more readily be attached to'existing vessels is shown in Figs. 10 to 12. Therein the outside of the rolled mat is fastened to a boom which is pivotally attached to the ship above the water line, preferably near the level of the deck. If desired, the boom 30 may be provided with: several holes for engagement by a pin so that it and the mat may be positioned properly with relation to the water line. In this instance a towing line 31 is attached to the lower end. of the boom and to a fixed eyebolt on the rail of the ship. The line 19 is attached to the lower end of the core of the mat as before, and the line 16 attached to the upper end of the core is maintained under tension as heretofore described.

WVhen not in operation the boom to which the mat is attached may be drawn up and disposed along the rail. It may be held in this position by a suitable releasable device, herein diagrammatically shown as a sling rope 32 attached at one end to the ship and at the other to a block 33 which is retained in position by a spring pressed lever 34:. The latter may be released manually or by an electromagnet as in the case of the first two forms of mat retaining means. WVhen the sling rope 32 is released the boom will be permitted to drop from the position shown in figure 10 to that shown at the right of Fig. 12. In order that there may be a tendency to force the boom against the side of the ship it may be provided with a shoe 35 as shown in Fig. 11, and it will be readily observed that the rush )of water along the side of the ship striking the diagonally disposed shoe will tend to force the boom toward the ship no matter in what position the ship may lie.

With either one of the three arrangements shown in the drawings and heretofore described the positioning of the mat may be accomplished very quickly. First referring to the device as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive;upon the explosion of a torpedo or mine, as soon as the location of the damage has been ascertained the proper chamber, which will preferably be the one next forward of the place of explosion, may. be opened by closing the circuit through the electromagnet of the releasing device or by manually releasing the lever. The door 3 will immediately be caught by the rushing water and swung completely back. The mat will be forced out from its chamber by the action of the springs, caught by the rushing water and unrolled as the ship proceeds. Vithin a very short time the mat will be entirely unrolled and will cover .the hole in the ships hull. In the meantime the sweep line may be passed under the keel, attached to the line 19 and the same hauled taut and made fast.

In the case of the second form of device shown in Figs. 7 to 9 the operation will be substantially the same.

Where the boom 30 is used, as soon as the location of the explosion has been ascertained, the proper boom may be released whereupon it will swing down the side of the ship. A suitable releasing device may be provided andconnected to the towing line 31 so that when the mat assumes a vertical position and the towing line is drawn taut, the mat will be released and free to unroll. Such means are herein shown as a lashing 36 passed around the rolled mat and lying between two eye bolts 37 where it is held by a pin 38. This pin is connected to an extension of the towing line 31. Due to the fact that the lower end of the boom is not attached to the side of the ship it may be desirable to provide a line 40, attached to the towing line 31 by means of a sliding ring, to be passed under the keel with the sweep line and drawn taut as soon as possible to hold the lower forward end of the mat in place.

It is to be understood that the present in- "ention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described comprising, a collision mat having a core upon which the mat may be rolled, said mat being attached at its outer end to the hull of a vessel and so positioned that its outboard layer during unrolling will lrnove toward the stern of the vessel.

2. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a substantially waterproof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber, means to retain said rolled mat within said chamber, and means to release said mat for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

3. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a door for said chamber hinged to open toward the stern of said vessel, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber, and means to release said mat for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means provid ing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a door for said chamber hinged to open toward the stern of said vessel, means to retain said door in closed position, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed wfthiu said chamber, and means to release said mat for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

5. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a door for said chamber hinged to open toward the stern of said vessel, means to retain said door in closed position, electrically controlled means to release said door retaining means, and a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber in position for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

6. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a door for said chamber hinged to open toward the stern of said vessel, means pivoted adjacent the forward edge of said door adapted upon rotation to open the same, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber in position for unrolling along the hull of said vessel upon opening of said door.

7. A device 'of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a door for said chamber hinged to open toward the stern of said vessel, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber, means to release said mat for unrolling along the hull of said yes sel', means pivoted adjacent the forward edge of said door adapted upon rotation to open the same, and an electrically controlled apparatus for operating said door opening means.

8. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a door for said chamber hinged to open toward the stern of said vessel, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber in position for unrolling along the hull of said vessel, spring pressed means tending to open said door, and a releasable catch to release said spring pressed means.

9. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a substantially waterproof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber, means to retain said rolled mat within said chamber, resilient means within said chamber tending to expel said mat therefrom, and means to release said mat for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

10. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a substantially water proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber, means to retain said rolled mat within said chamber, means to release said mat for unrolling along the hull of said vessel, and a line attached to said mat and extending aft from said chamber.

11. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a substantially waterproof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed within said chamber, means to retain said rolled mat within said chamber, means to releas said mat for unrolling along the hull of said vessel, a line attached to said mat and extending aft from said chamber, and means to maintain tension upon said line.

12. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, means providing an outwardly opening chamber within the hull of a vessel, a substantially waterproof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled and placed Within said chamber, means to retain said rolled mat within said chamber, means to release said mat for unrolling along the hull of said vessel, and a line attached to the lower infolded corner of said mat adapted to be passed under the keel of said vessel.

13. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself and positioned vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel, means providing a protecting covering for said mat, means to attach said covering to said hull fore and aft of said mat, and means to release said forward attachment whereby said mat is released for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

14. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself and positioned vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel, means providing a protecting covering for said mat, means to attach said covering to said hull aft of said mat, means releasably attaching said covering to said hull forward of said mat, and means to disengage said releasable attaching means whereby said mat is released for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

15. A devic of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself and positioned vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel, means providing a protectingcovering to said mat, means to attach said covering to said hull aft of said mat, means releasably attaching said covering to said hull forward of said mat, and electrically controlled means to disengage said releasable attaching means whereby said mat is released for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

16. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially waterproof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled. upon itself and positioned vertically with respect to the hull of said vessel, means providing a protecting covering for said mat, means to attach said covering to said hull fore and aft of said mat, resilient means tending to force said mat away from said hull and means to release said forward attachment whereby said mat is released for unrolling along the hull of said vessel.

17. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of a vessel, whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel.

18. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom pivotally attached to the hull of the vessel above the water line and to which the outer end of said rolled mat is fastened, means to position said boom horizontally above the waterline, and means to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the sternof the vessel.

19. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel, and lines attached to the infolded corners of said mat to fasten the same in operative position.

20. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means pivotally connecting the upper end of said boom to the hull of a vessel, a towing line connecting the lower end of said boom to said bull to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel.

21. A device of the character described comprising. in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means pivotally connecting the upper end of said boom to the hull of a vessel and a towing line connecting the lower end of said boom to said hull, means to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of the ves sel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel, and

lines attached to the infolded corners of said mat to fasten the same in operative position.

22. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means for releasably holding the rolled mat and boom substantially horizontal above the water line, means to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel.

23. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means for releasably holding the rolled mat and boom substantially horizontal above the water line, and means for releasing said boom and mat to position the same vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel.

24;. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means to retain the mat in rolled condition with respect to said boom, means to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel.

25. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said rolled mat is attached, means to position said boom vertically with respect to the hull of the vessel whereby said mat may be unrolled along the hull toward the stern of said vessel, means to retain the mat in rolled condition with respect to said boom releasable upon movement of the boom into vertical position.

26. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially water-proof reinforced mat adapted to be rolled upon itself, a boom to which the outer end of said mat is attached, a towing line attached to one end of said boom, means to retain said mat in rolled condition with respect to said boom interconnected with said towing line and releasable thereby.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 11th day of August, 1917.

RALPH E. CHAPMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

